Enrico Gasparotto has won the 51st Amstel Gold Race. The Wanty-rider beat Michael Valgren (Tinkoff) at the finish after a wild ascent of the Cauberg. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani) took third place, 3 seconds behind the winner.

For Gasparotto it's his second victory in the Amstel Gold Race. The Italian rider managed to win in 2012.

After several crusades on cobblestones, the stage changed dramatically: the Dutch hills brings forth a completely different type of winner. The Amstel Gold Race being the first chance for the likes of Philippe Gilbert, Michael Kwiatkowski and Michael Matthews to take a classic crown.

Lot's of speculation in the hours before the 51st Amstel Gold Race starts in Maastricht. Would the riders surprise us a the did during the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix? Or was it going to be a traditional race; all the big names in front, anticipating a tour de force on the Cauberg?

Well, there was a surprise. Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) tumbled and quit before the official start. Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) was out after just 35 kilometers.

A bit of a shock for the Dutch crowd at the climb of Camerig. The peloton showed many breaks and local favorite Tom Dumoulin was way in the back. In the days prior to the Amstel Gold Race Dumoulin talked about the finish. ,,We should change the place of arrival. AGR is a tough race but could be really spectacular if the finish was further away from the Cauberg.” His hometown Maastricht is an option, the Giant-Alpecin-rider concluded.

Team Sky managed to keep the breakaway within shooting distance. The dark force in front of the peloton seemed to draw a similar color clouds. Rain would be an unwelcome guest . The hills and wind being a tough enough challenge.

With 60 kilometers to go a horrible crash took place. Stef Clement (iAm) and Grega Bole (Nippo) seemed to be in a bad state.

Van der Sande, Meersman, Bonifazio and Thurau tried to bridge the gap but fell 1.30 short. At the Gulpenerberg the rain caught up with the riders. More and more of them having trouble to follow. Joaquin Rodriguez, who crashed, one of them. Also Philippe Gilbert, three-time winner, seemed to be in trouble.

On the Eyserbosweg Michael Matthews (Orica) decided to send his luitenant Michael Albasini to the front. The breakaway shattered into fragments.

Bob Jungels and Enrico Battaglin were the first to get in front after a speedy ascent of the Cauberg. Michael Kwiatkowski decided he'd seen enough. No reprisal of his victory last year.

About 60 riders gathered for the last 10 kilometers. Roman Kreuziger jumped, but was caught by Tim Wellens. Sepp Vanmarcke tried to bridge but was unsuccessful.

With 10 seconds to spare, Tim Wellens took on the Cauberg for the last time. He was caught bij Enrico Gasparotto and Michael Valgren.

They managed to stay ahead until the finish line. Gasparotto being a clear winner in the sprint.